Journal article
Prevalence and characteristics of multiple analgesic drug use in an elderly study group
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS), Vol.38(9), pp.979-984
09/1990
DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1990.tb04419.x
PMID: 2212451
Abstract
With few exceptions, use of multiple analgesic drugs achieves dubious increases in analgesia while placing elders at increased risk of the many potential adverse effects of analgesic drugs. The potential for duplication of analgesic therapy among the elderly is great due to prevalent painful chronic conditions and the variety of prescription and nonprescription analgesic remedies available. The prevalence of multiple analgesic product use and patterns of concurrent use of different analgesic categories was investigated in a geographically defined population of persons 65 years of age and older. The demographic characteristics of users of multiple analgesic drug products were examined, as were their smoking status, alcohol use, lifetime history rates of major illnesses, physical functioning, pain experiences, memory performance, and depressive symptoms. A substantial proportion of analgesic users reported taking multiple products in the preceding 2 weeks (14.4% of female and 10.5% of male analgesic users). Men who reported pain in the preceding year were more likely to use multiple analgesic products. Women who experienced pain or limited physical functioning, or who had higher depressive symptom scores or a life-time history of ulcers were most likely to use multiple analgesic products. Thus, although some users of multiple analgesic products reported significant pain, several other factors were shown to be related to the phenomenon of multiple use.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Prevalence and characteristics of multiple analgesic drug use in an elderly study group
- Creators
- Elizabeth A Chrischilles - Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242Jon H LemkeRobert B WallaceGregg A Drube
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS), Vol.38(9), pp.979-984
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1990.tb04419.x
- PMID
- 2212451
- NLM abbreviation
- J Am Geriatr Soc
- ISSN
- 0002-8614
- eISSN
- 1532-5415
- Publisher
- United States
- Grant note
- N01-AG-0-2106 / NIA NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/1990
- Academic Unit
- Pharmacy; Epidemiology; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9983996086102771
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